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Terms
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- acidemia
- increased acidity of the blood
- acidosis
- the accumulation of acid and hydrogen ions or depletion of the alkaline reserve (bicarbonate content) in the blood and body tissues, decreasing the pH
- alkalemia
- increased pH (abnormal alkalinity) of the blood
- alkalosis
- a pathologic condition due to accumulation of base in, or loss of acid from, the body
- ampere
- the base SI unit of electric current strength, defined in terms of the force of attraction between two parallel conductors carrying current
- anemia
- reduction below normal of the number of erythrocytes, quantity of hemoglobin, or the volume of packed red cells in the blood; a symptom of various diseases and disorders
- arterial
- pertaining to an artery or to the arteries
- ASA
- America Society of Anesthesiologist
- attentuate
- to render weak or thin
- axis
-
* a line through the center of the body, or about which a structure revolves; a line around which body parts are arranged
*the second cervical vertebra - BMI
- Body Mass Index
- bone
-
the hard, rigid form of connective tissue constituting most of the skeletion of vertebrates, composed chiefly of calcium salts
*specialized connective tissue composed of osteocytes (bone cells) forming the skeleton - BP
- Blood Pressure
- bradypneic
- abnormal slowness of breathing
- cancer
- a neoplastic disease the natural course of which is fatal. Cancer cells, unlike benign tumor cells, exhibit the properties of invasion and are highly anaplastic. The term includes the two broad categories of carcinoma and sarcoma, but is often used synonymously with the former.
- carbon dioxide
- an odorless, colorless gas, CO2, resulting from oxidation of carbon, and formed in the tissues and eliminated by the lungs; used in some pump oxygenators to maintain blood carbon dioxide tension.
- cartilage
- a specialized, fibrous connective tissue present in adults, and forming the temporary skeleton in the embryo, providing a model in which the bones develope, and constituting a part of the orgainism's growth mechanism; the three most important types are hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage
- cirrosis
- a group of liver diseases marked by interstitial inflammation of the liver, loss of normal hepatic architecture, fibrosis, and nodular regeneration
- clubbing
- proliferation of soft tissue around the ends of fingers and toes, without osseous change
- conduction
- conveyance of energy, as of heat, sound, or electricity
- convection
- the act of conveying or transmission, specifically trasmission of heat in a liquid or gas by bulk movement of heated particles to a cooler area
- dehydration
- removal of water from a substance; the condition that results from excessive loss of body water
- dentist
- a person with a degree in dentistry and authorized to practice dentistry
- desflurane
- an inhalational anesthetic used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia
- divericulum
- a circumscribed pouch or sac occuring normally or created by hernitation of the lining mucous membrane through a defect in the muscular coat of a tubular organ
- dwarf
- an abnormally short person
- dyspneic
- labored or difficult breathing
- emergent
-
coming out from a cavity or another part.
*or... pertaining to an emergency - encephalopathy
- any degenerative brain tissue
- force
- any influence that acts to change the motion of an object, either accelerating or decelerating it, including changes in direction of motion (F)
- fraction
- the portion of something larger. In chemistry, one of the separable constituents of a substance
- gynecologist
- a person skilled in the branch of medicine dealing with diseases of the genital tract in women
- helium
- chemical element at number two. It is obtained from natural gas. Used as a diluent for other gases, particularly with oxygen in the treatment of certain cases of respiratory obstruction, and as a vehiclefor general anesthetics
- hematocrit
- the volume percentage of erythrocytes in whole blood; also, the apparatus of procedure used in its determination
- hemoglobin
- the oxygen-carrying pigment of erythrocytes, formed by devoping erythrocytes in teh bone marrow; a hemoprotein made up of four different polypeptide globin chains that contain between 141 and 146 amino acids.
- hemmorage
- the escape of blood from the vessels; bleeding
- hiatal hernia
- protrusion of any structure through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm
- hypercapnia
- excessive carbon dioxide in the blood
- hypercarbia
- hypercapnia, excessive carbon dioxide in the blood
- hyperpnea
- abnormal increase in depth and rate of respiration
- hypertension
- persistently high arterial blood pressure; it may have no known cause of may be associated with other diseases
- hypocapnia
- deficiency of carbon dioxide in the blood
- hypocarbia
- hypocapnia, dificiency of carbon dioxide in the blood
- hypoglycemia
- deficiency of glucose concentration in the blood, which may lead to hypothermia, headache, and more serious neurological symptoms
- hypokalemia
- abnormally low potassium levels in the blood, which may lead to neuromuscular and renal disorders
- hyponatremia
- deficiency of sodium in the blood
- hypotension
- abnormally low blood pressure
- hypoxemia
- deficient oxygenation of the blood
- hypoxia
- reduction of oxygen supply to a tissue below physiological levels despite adequate perfusion of the tissue by blood
- icterus
- jaundice
- isoflurane
- a potent inhalational anesthetic similar to enflurane, used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia
- jaundice
- icterus, yellowness of the skin, scleras, mucous membranes, and excretions due to hyperbilirubinemia and deposition of bile pigments
- laparoscopy
- examination or treatment of the interior of the abdomen by means of a laparoscope (an endoscope for examining the perioneal cavity
- ligament
- a band of fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages, serving to support and strengthen joints.
- mediate
-
1) indirect; accomplished by means of an intervening medium
2) to serve as an intermediate agent - midget
- old term for normal dwarf
- muscle
- an organ that by contraction produces movement of an animal organism
- Nitrogen (N)
- chemical element at number 7. It forms about 78 percent of the atmosphere and is a constituent of all proteins and nucleic acids
- nitrous oxide
- a gas, N2O, used as a general anesthetic , usually in combination with another agent
- obesity
- an increase in body weight beyond the limitation of skeletal and physical requirements, as the result of excessive accumulation of body fat
- obstetrician
- one who practices obstetrics (the branch of medicine dealing with pregnancy, labor, and puerperium)
- ohm
- the SI unit of electrical resistance, being that of a resistor in which a current of 1 ampere is produced by a potential difference of 1 volt
- opthalmologist
- a physician who specializes in ophthalmology (the branch of medicine dealing with the eye, including its anatomy, physiology, and pathology)
- otolaryngologist
- one who specializes in the branch of medicine dealing with disease of the ear, nose, and throat
- oxygen
- chemical element at number 8. It constitutes about 20 per cent of atmosphereic air, is the essential agent in the respiration of plants and animals, and is necessary to support combustion.
- PACU
- post anesthesia care unit
- polycythemia
- an increase in the total cell mass of the blood
- radiation
-
1) divergence from a common center
2) a structure made up of divergent elements, as one of the fiber tracts in the brain
3)energy transmitted by waves through space of through some medium, usually referring to electromagneticradiation, when used without a modifier. By extension, a stream of particles, such as electrons or alpha particles. - rales
- crackles; a discontinuos sound consisting of a series of short sounds, heard during inhalation
- reflux
- a backward or return flow
- respiratory rate
- the number of movements of the chest wall per unit of time, indicative of inhalation and exhalation
- si
- International Systems of Units; any of the International System of Units adopted in 1960 at the Eleventh General Conference of Weights and Measurements
- tachycardia
- abnormally rapid heart rate
- tachypneic
- very rapid respirations
- tendon
- a fibrous cord of connective tissue continouos with fibers of a muscle and attaching the muscle to bone or cartilage
- urologist
- one who specializes in the medical area concerned with the urinary system in the male and female and the genital organs of the male
- volt (V)
- the SI unit of electric potential or electromotive force, equal to 1 watt per ampere, or 1 joule per coulomb
- vital signs
- the pulse, respiration, and temperature
- residual volume (RV)
- the amount of gas remaining in the lung at the end of a maximal exhalation
- myocardial ischemia
- deficiency of blood in the heart, usually due to funtional constriction or actual obstruction of a blood vessel
- myocardial infarction
- (MI), gross necrosis of the myocardium, due to interruption of the blood supply to the area
- Heart rate
-
(HR)
*pulse rate-the number of pulseations noted in a peripheral artery per unit of time - Pulse rate
- the number of pulseations noted in a peripheral artery per unit of time
- abduction
- the state of being abducted (to draw away from the median plane, or (the digits) from the axial line of a limb)
- acromegaly
- abnormal enlargement of the limbs, caused by hupersecretion of growth hormone after maturity
- acute
- having severe symptoms and a short course
- adduction
- the state of adducting, the state of being adducted (to draw toward the median plane or (in the digits)toward the axial line of a limb
- arytenoid cartilage
- one of the two pyramid-shaped cartilages of the larynx
- astrocytoma
- a tumor composed of astrocytes, the most common type of primary brain tumor and also found throughout the central nervous system, classified on the basis of histology or in order of malignancy
- atlas
- the first cervical vertebra
- capnogram
- a real-time waveform record of the concentration of carbon dioxide in the respiratory system
- capnography
- monitoring of the concentration of exhaled carbon dioxide in order to assess physiologic status or determine the adequacy of ventilation during anesthesia
- capsule
-
an enclosing structure, as a soluble container enclosing a dose of medicine
2) a cartilaginous, fatty, fibrous, membranous structure enveloping another structure, organ, or part - cervical spine
- that portion of the spine comprising the cervical vertebrae
- choana -ae
-
1)infundibulum
2)the paired openings between the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx - chronic
- persisting for a long time
- circumferential
- pertaining to a circumference; encircling; peripheral
- condyle
- a rounded projection on a bone usually for articulation with another bone
- coronoid
-
1)shaped like a crow's beak
2)crown-shaped - cough
-
1)sudden, noisy expulsion of air from the lungs
2)to produce such an expulsion - cricoid cartilage
- a ringlike cartilage forming the lower and back part of the larynx
- cuff (ETT)
- a small, bandlike structure encircling a part or object
- deciduous teeth
- primary teeth; the twenty teeth of the first dentition, which are shed and replaced by the permenant teeth
- defecation
-
1)the evacuation of fecal matter from the rectum
2)the removal of impurities, as chemical defecation - dens
-
1)tooth
2)a tooth-like stucture
3)dens axis; the toothlike process that projects from the superior surface of the body of the axis, ascending to articulate with the atlas - diabetes mellitus
- any disorder characterized by excessive urine excretion.
- disk
- circular or rounded flat plate
- endotracheal intubation
- insertion of a tube into the trachea for purposes of anesthesia, airway maintenance, aspiration of secretions, lung ventilation, or prevention of entrance of foreign material into the airway; the tube goes through the nose (nasotracheal) or mouth (orotracheal)
- epiglottis
- the lidlike cartilaginous structure overhanging the entrance to the larynx, guarding it during swallowing
- ethmoid sinus
- paranasal sinuses found in groups within the ethmoid bone in communication with the ethmoidal infundibulum and bulla and the superior and highest meatuses; often subdivided into anterior, posterior, and middle
- facet
- a small plane surface on a hard body, as on a bone
- fracture
-
1)the breaking of a part, especially a bone
2)a break or rupture in a bone - frenulum
- a small fold of integument or mucous membrane that limits the movements of and organ or part
- frontal sinus
- one of the paired paranasal sinuses in the frontal bone, each communicating with middle meatus of the ipsilateral nasal cavitity
- hematemesis
- the vomiting of blood
- hemoptysis
- the spitting of blood or blood-stained sputum
- ID -infective dose
- that amount of pathogenic organisms that will cause infection in susceptibe subjects
- infection
-
1)invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissue, especially that causing local cellular injury due to competitive metabolism, toxins, intracellular replication, or antigen-antibody response
2)an infectious disease - inflammation
- a protective tissue response to injury or destruction of tissues, which serves to destroy, dilute, or wall off both the injurious agent and the injured tissues. The classical signs of acute inflammation and pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function.
- intermediate
-
1)between; intervening; resembling in part, each of two extremes
2)a substance formed in a chemical process that is essential to formation of the end product of the process - intubation
- the insertion of a tube into a body canal or hollow organ, as into the trachea
- laryngoscopy
- visual examination of the interior of the larynx
- larynx
- the organ of voice; the air passage between the lower pharynx and the trachea containing the vocal cords and formed by nine cartilages: the thyroid, cricoid, epiglottis, and the paired arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform cartilages
- lumbar spine
- that portion of the spine comprising the lumbar vertebra
- lumen
-
1)the cavity or channel within a tube or tubular organ
2)the SI unit of luminous flux; it is the light emitted in a unit solid angle by a uniform point source with luminous intensity of one candela - mandible
- the lower jaw
- nasal septum
- the partition between the two nasal cavities
- nasopharynx
- the part of the pharynx above the soft palate
- oropharynx
- the part of the pharynx between the soft palate and the upper edge of the epiglottis
- palatine tonsil(s)
- a small mass of lymphoid tissuebetween the pillars of the fauces on either side of the pharynx
- palatoglossal arch
- the anterior of the two folds of mucous membrane of either side of the oropharynx, enclosing the palatoglossal muscle
- palatopharyngeal arch
- the posterior of the two folds of mucous membrane on either side of the oropharyns, enclosing the palatopharyngeal muscle
- parturition
- childbirth
- patent
-
open, unobstructed, or not closed
*apparent, evident - permanent teeth
- the 32 of the second dentition
- pharyngitis
- sore throat; inflammation of the pharynx
- pheochromocytoma
- a tumor of chromaffin tissue of the adrenal medulla or sympathetic paraganglia; symptoms, notably, hypertension, reflect the increased secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine
- phlegmon
- diffuse infammation of the soft or connective tissue due to infection
- radiodensity
- radiopacity, the quality or property of obstructing the passage of radiant energy, such as x-rays, the representative areas appearing light or white on the exposed film
- ramus
- a branch, as of a nerve, vein, or artery
- soft palate
- the fleshy part of the palate, extending from the posterior edge of the hard palate; the uvula projects from its free inferior border
- sphenoid sinus
- one of the paired paranasal sinuses in the body of the sphenoid bone and opening into the highest meatus of the ipsalateral nasal cavity
- stridor
- a harsh, high-pitched breath sound
- subluxation
-
1)incomplete or partial dislocation
2)in chiropractic, any mechanical impediment to nerve function; originally, a vertebral displacement believed to impair nerve function - thoracic spine
- the part of the spine composing the thoracic vertebrae
- thyroid cartilage
- the shield-shaped cartilage of the larynx
- tonsillitis
- inflammation of the tonsils, especially the palatine tonsils
- trismus
- motor disturbance of the trigeminal nerve, especially spasm of the masticatory muscles, with difficulty in opening the mouth (lockjaw); a characteristic early in tetanus
- uvula
- a pendant, fleshy mass
- wheeze
- a whistling type of continuos sound
- xiphoid
-
1)ensiform, sword-shaped
2)xiphoid process - vocal cords
- folds of mucous membrane in the larynx; the superior pair are called the false vocal cords and the inferior, the true vocal cords
- hyoid bone
- a U-shaped bone or complex of bones that is situated between the base of the tongue and the larynx and that supports the tongue, the larynx, and their muscles -- called also hyoid, lingual bone
- nasal concha
- any of three thin bony plates on the lateral wall of the nasal fossa on each side with or without their covering of mucous membrane
- palliate
- to reduce the violence of (a disease) : ease without curing
- patency
- the quality or state of being open or unobstructed
- temporomandibular joint syndrome
-
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a diarthrosis joint that connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the temporal bone at the side of a skull. As a modified hinge joint, not only does the TMJ enable the jaw to open and close, it also enables the jaw to move forward and backward, as well as laterally.
This is a ginglymo-arthrodial joint; the parts entering into its formation on either side are: the anterior part of the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone and the articular tubercle above; and the condyle of the mandible below. - temporal fossa
- a broad fossa on the side of the skull of higher vertebrates behind the orbit that contains muscles for raising the lower jaw and that in humans is occupied by the temporalis muscle, is separated from the orbit by the zygomatic bone, is bounded laterally by the zygomatic arch, and lies above the infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone
- pulse oximetry
- the oxygen saturation of the blood of an anesthetized patient
- hypoproteinemia
- abnormal deficiency of protein in the blood
- hypoalbuminemia
- hypoproteinemia marked by reduction in serum albumins
- neurosurgeon
- a surgeon specializing in surgical procedures involving the nervous system
- physical examination
-
an examination of the bodily functions and condition of an individual
*to obtain objective information, facts that can be seen or detected by testing - alleviate
- to make (as symptoms) less severe or more bearable
- elective
- beneficial to the patient but not essential for survival
- history
- an account of a patient's family and personal background and past and present health
- plastic surgeon
- surgeon who specializes in procedures concerned with restoration, reconstruction, correction, or improvement in the shape and appearence of body structures that are defective, damaged, or misshapen by injury, disease, or growth and development
- oral surgeon
- one who specializes in the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and surgical and adjunct treatment of diseases and defects of the mouth and dental structures
- general surgeon
- a surgean who deals with surgical problems of all kinds, rather than those in a restricted area
- morbid obesity
- the condition of weighing two or more times the ideal weight; so called because it is associated with many serious and life threatening disorders
- orthopedic surgeon
- one who specializes in the branch of surgery dealing with the preservation and restoration of the function of the skeletal system, it's articulations, and associated structures
- turbinate
-
of, relating to, or being a nasal concha
*any of the nasal conchae - sx
- abbrev. for symptom
- OD
- right eye or doctor of optometry
- ABG
- arterial blood gas
- FROM
- Full range of motion (eg cervical spine)
- C1
- cervical vertebra one; atlas
- C2
- cervical vertebra two; axis
- RR
- recovery room
- cerebral edema
- oedema is an excess accumulation of water in the intra- and/or extracellular spaces of the brain. Edema can occur as the result of many things, including head injury, allergic reaction, stroke, acute liver disease, cardiac arrest or from the lack of proper altitude acclimatization.The brain is especially susceptible to injury from edema, because it is located within a confined space and cannot expand.
- circumoral cyanosis
- a blueish discoloration around or encircling the mouth due to excessive concentration of deoxyhemoglobin in the blood
- Functional residual capacity (FCR)
- ) is the amount of air remaining in the lungs at the end of a normal expiration. FRC is the sume of RV and ERV. (RV + ERV = FRC)
- Total lung capacity
- ) is the amount of air in the lungs at the end of an extended or complete inspiration. TLC is the sum of all four lung volumes discussed above. (RV + IRV + TV + ERV = TLC)
- T (vital sign)
- Temperature
- breathing circuit
- The function of any breathing circuit is to deliver oxygen and anesthetic gases, and eliminate carbon dioxide.They are designed to allow either spontaneous respiration or intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) and consist of a reservoir bag, anaesthetic tubing, and a pressure relief valve. A breathing circuit must enable a patient to breathe satisfactorily without significantly increasing the work of breathing or the physiological deadspace. It must also conduct inhalational anaesthetic agents to the patient.
- Neuromuscular blockade (NMB)
- a failure in neuromuscular transmission that can be induced pharmacologically or may result from pathological disturbance at the myoneural junction
- renal failure
- the inability of a kidney to excrete metabolites at normal plasma levels under conditions of normal loading or the inability to retain electrolytes under conditions of normal intake. In the acute form, it is marked by uremia and usually by oliguria or anuria, with hyperkalemia and pulmonary edema. Chronic forms result from a wide variety of conditions and may require hemodialysis or transplantation.
- renal insuffiency
- a state of disordered functionof the kidneys verifiable by quantitative tests
- sevoflurane
- an inhalation anesthetic used for the induction and maintenence of general anesthesia
- pressure
- force per unit area; symbol P. The SI unit for pressure is the Pascal (Pa); which is one newton per square meter area
- ANSI
- American National Standards Institute
- ASTM
- American Society for testing and materials
- Bag-and-mask Ventilations
- (BVM) a hand-held device with a face mask and self-refilling bag that can be squeezed to provide artificial ventilations to a patient. Can deliver air from the atmosphere or oxygen from a supplemental oxygen supply system
- ETT
- endotracheal tube
- FFOB
- flexible fibre optics bundle
- French (Size/scale)
- a scale used for denoting the size of catheters, sounds, and other tubular instuments; one French unit (symbol F) is .33 mm in diameter, so that an 18 French 18F needle has a diameter of 6mm
- gauge (size)
- a plate with graduated perforations for measuring the outside diameters of a catheters
- interarytenoid incisure
- incisura interarytenoidea, interarytenoid notch: the posterior portion of the aditus laryngis between the two arytenoid cartilages
- LMA
-
Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) – The LMA is a cuff device that provides sufficient seal to allow for positive pressure ventilation to be delivered. It is particularly useful in maintaining an airway in anesthetized patients when endotracheal intubation is not desired or during emergency situations in which mask ventilation is not possible or intubation and/or ventilation fails.
An LMA is a wide bore tube, with a connector at its proximal end (that can be connected to a breathing circuit)and with an elliptical cuff at its distal end. When inflated, the elliptical cuff forms a low pressure seal around the entrance into the larynx. The LMA comes in a variety of pediatric and adult sizes and successful insertion requires appropriate size selection. - major carina
- carina of the trachea: a projection of the lowest tracheal cartilage, forming a prominent semilunar ridge running anteroposteriorly between the orifices of the two bronchi
- right mainstream bronchi
-
one of the larger air passages of the lungs, having an outer fibrous coat with irregularly placed plates of hyaline cartilage, on interlacing network of smooth muscle, and a mucous membrance of columnar ciliated epithelial cells.
*one of the two main bronchi in which the trachea divides into, passing into the respective right lung - septal deviation
- a crookedness of the wall between the nasal cavities that can block airflow
- NAW
-
nasal airway
nasopharyngeal airway - NETT
- nasal endotracheal tube /intubation
- OAW
-
oral airway
oropharyngeal airway - OETT
- oral endotracheal tube /intubation
- Murphy eye
-
An endotracheal (ET) tube is passed into the trachea to provide a patent airway in those whose airway is, or may become, compromised. Intubation is often accompanied by externally controlled breathing via a bag-valve-mask (ambu bag) or ventilator. The tubes are available in a variety of lengths and sizes (diameter). All tubes have a standard 15-mm adapter affixed to the proximal end for attachment to the ventilating device. The distal end has an opening in the side wall called a Murphy eye. This opening reduces the likelihood of complete airway obstruction if the end opening of the ET tube becomes obstructed.
The Murphy eye, incorporated into many modern tubes, permits airflow to take place even if this has occurred. - Acid-base disorder
-
Respiratory acid-base disorders are disorders of carbon dioxide tension (PCO2)
⬢ Summary of Acid-Base Disorders:
o Acid-base state is determined by changes in PaCO2, Strong Ion Difference (SID), and Proteintotal.
o All acid-base disturbances are caused by changes in PaCO2, SID, and Proteintotal.
o Since protein concentration is not manipulated clinically, all acid-base disturbances are corrected by changes in PaCO2 and SID. - pharyngeal wall
- the tissue making up the back of the throat
- fulcrum
- An anatomical structure that acts as a hinge or point of support
- J-wire
- flexible angiographic wire catheter guide ,to facilitate central vascular access.a thin, usually flexible wire that can be inserted into a confined or tortuous space to act as a guide for subsequent insertion of a stiffer or bulkier instrument, such as a catheter.
- straight wire
- a thin, usually flexible wire that can be inserted into a confined or tortuous space to act as a guide for subsequent insertion of a stiffer or bulkier instrument, such as a catheter.
- lay
-
to bring forth and deposit
*to put or set down
*to place for rest or sleep - lie
-
to assume a horizontal position
*to be or to stay at rest in a horizontal position : be prostrate - Macintosh blade
- Endotracheal intubation is required to provide a patent airway when patients are at risk of aspiration, when airway maintenance by mask is difficult, and for prolonged controlled ventilations. Intublation is usually performed with a laryngoscope. The Macintosh blade is curved, and the tip is inserted into the vallecula (the space between the base of the tongue and the pharyngeal sufface of the epiglottis).
- Miller blade
- Endotracheal intubation is required to provide a patent airway when patients are at risk of aspiration, when airway maintenance by mask is difficult, and for prolonged controlled ventilations. Intublation is usually performed with a laryngoscope. The Miller blade is straight, and it is passed so that the tip lies beneath the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis. The epiglottis then is lifted to expose the vocal cords.
- SpO2
- blood oxygen saturation
- practice guideline
-
A set of strategies, techniques, and treatment approaches that support or lead to a specific standard(s) of care that guides mental health systems, clinical care, and professions in their relationships to consumers
*The term practice guideline refers to a set of patient care strategies developed to assist in clinical decision making
*a document with the aim of guiding decisions and criteria in specific areas of healthcare, as defined by an authoritative examination of current evidence (evidence-based medicine). Guidelines usually include summarized consensus statements, but unlike the latter, they also address practical issues.
Clinical guidelines briefly identify, summarize and evaluate the best evidence and most current data about prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, therapy, risk/benefit and cost/effectiveness. Then they define the most important questions related to clinical practice and identify all possible decision options and their outcomes. Thus, they integrate the identified decision points and respective courses of action to the clinical judgment and experience of practitioners. Many guidelines place the treatment alternatives into classes to help providers in deciding which treatment to use.